Telehealth program serves growing elderly population

“The telehealth program, an interactive TV system for providing care and monitoring for patients in their own living rooms, is part of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Home Care Network’s efforts to keep elderly patients out of the emergency room or a nursing home.
Telehealth is a means of using technology to monitor people more frequently in their homes and keep them in their homes as long as possible.”
Article
Rhoda Amon, Newsday.com, 29 September 2008

Connected Personal Health in 2015: “Getting it Right!”

“This Vision Paper is a creative synthesis of many ambitious ideas about possible developments in the field of telehealth. These imaginative glimpses of telehealth futures, crafted by some of the leading health and technology experts in the field, project a fascinating new world of personal health possibilities that could become very real within the next few years. Making “best-case scenarios” such as these come true is part of the Continua Alliance’s mission to promote sustained leadership in technology R&D, service innovation, public policy, corporate strategy, and personal behavioral changes around the world.
Join us in imagining the possibilities!”
White Paper
Conintua, September 2008

Project E-vita links RTX telehealth monitor data with electronic patient record

“Isle of Man-based electronic patient record (EPR) company EvaWare has moved the goalposts for telehealth companies that rely on the manual transfer of telehealth monitoring data into patient records. Its ‘Project E-vita’ takes data from monitors via the RTX hub, and patient’s answers to personally designed questions and instantly updates the patient’s EPR. It then automatically sends the clinician an email or SMS text alert if predetermined clinical thresholds have been breached.”
Article
Telecare Aware, 18 September 2008

Visiting nurses to use telehealth program

“The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia will be monitoring patients in Montgomery County through a telehealth program.
The association will provide a personalized telehealth service in Montgomery County, a suburban county northwest of Philadelphia, for patients with chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
Article
Molly Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 18 September 2008

A New flustering approach for Privacy Preserving Data Fishing in Tele-Health Care Systems

“The genesis of the privacy preserving data mining techniques haul out the relevant intellect from mammoth amount of data in Tele-health care systems, while shielding at the same time sensitive information. A number of data fishing techniques, integrating privacy protection mechanisms, have been developed that allow one to smokescreen sensitive item sets or patterns, ahead of the execution of the data fishing process. An imperative issue is to settle on which ones among these privacy preserving techniques are superior enough to protect sensitive information. In this paper, we analyse the existing privacy breaches data perturbation techniques. With the impetus of increasing the data utility, and without compromising the simplicity of the process of perturbation, we have proposed a new variant of the random projection-based perturbation technique for mystifying the tele-health care data of individuals called the flustering approach. We have implemented and evaluated the competence of flustering technique on our own conceptual framework. We hope the proposed solution will get hold of new techniques, paving the way for a research track and working well, according to the evaluation metrics, including hiding effects, data utility and time performance.”
Abstract
J. Indumathi, G.V. Uma, International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management 2008 - Vol. 9, No.5/6  pp. 495 - 516, DOI: 10.1504/IJHTM.2008.020201

AHRQ study highlights telehealth benefits, challenges

“The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality has released a report on telehealth grant projects that reveals the improvements and challenges that telehealth grantees experience.”
Article
Molly Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 4 September 2008

The failure of e-health/telehealth today

“Because I recently had rotator cuff surgery, my output has declined and maybe it allowed me to sit back and think of the state e-health/telehealth today in the US.
Sadly with some exceptions, I am not impressed, but in parts of the world we don’t even compare.
Why perhaps its lack of leadership or our e-health/telehealth leaders are risk adverse?
What may be lacking, in my opinion is we don’t have any e-health/telehealth statesmen.”
Article
The Bob Blog, 10 August 2008

Newsletter Australasian Telehealth Society

Newsletter
25 July 2008

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, TOC, July 2008

Telerehabilitation for service delivery in speech-language pathology
“Communication disorders in adults and children can have a significant effect on their quality of life and on that of their families. Speech-language pathologists face several challenges in providing assessment and treatment services to such people. Challenges include facilitating equitable access to services and providing appropriate management within a changing social and economic context. Telerehabilitation has the potential to deliver services in the home or local community via videoconferencing and through interactive computer-based therapy activities. This form of service delivery has the capacity to optimize functional outcomes by facilitating generalization of treatment effects within the person’s everyday environment, and enable monitoring of communication and swallowing behaviours on a long-term basis. A number of image-based telerehabilitation applications have been used in the management of adult neurogenic speech and language disorders, stuttering, voice disorders, speech and language disorders in children, laryngectomy and swallowing dysfunction. Further development of such applications and other computer-based therapies, cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses, and professional education are needed if telerehabilitation is to become an integral part of speech-language pathology practice.”
Abstract
Deborah G Theodoros, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 221-224, doi:10.1258/jtt.2007.007044

Telehealth: a child and family-friendly approach to mental health-care reform
“Limited access to paediatric mental health services and high drop-out rates from treatment result in poor health outcomes for families with children with mental health problems. New ways of delivering care are required. Telehealth is a promising approach. The Family Help programme employs manualized, distance treatment by telephone. Participants in the Family Help programme (both adults and children) have reported a strong therapeutic alliance with their telephone coach. Participants also described how during treatment sessions they felt comfortable and safe in their own home; they did not feel stigmatized or judged; they had little apprehension about self-disclosure and they felt that treatment was delivered at their convenience. Treatment calls were often scheduled after typical working hours. Attrition rates were found to be very low and children actively engaged in the structured, distance treatment. Evidence-based, distance delivery using non-professionals is a promising approach to the delivery of paediatric mental health care.”
Abstract
Patricia Lingley-Pottie and Patrick J McGrath, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 225-226, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.008001

Effect of a behavioural health and specialty care telemedicine programme on goal attainment for youths in juvenile detention
“We conducted a pre-post study of the effect of a telepsychiatry counselling service on youths housed in three juvenile detention facilities. In the first year of the telemedicine programme, 321 psychiatry consultations were conducted via telemedicine; in the second year of the programme, 573 psychiatry consultations were conducted. Records for 190 students were then examined by two raters. The total number of behavioural goals for each adolescent increased from 8.2 in the pre-telemedicine year to 8.7 in the first year of telemedicine and then to 10.0 in the second year (P < 0.05). In Year 2 of the study, subjects also had a significantly higher number of goals in four of the five categories: education, family, health and social skills (P < 0.05). Although other changes at the youth detention facilities or in the juvenile justice system may have been partly responsible for the effects observed, the study suggests that telemedicine may be useful for improving the rate of attainment of goals associated with family relations and personality/behaviour."
Abstract
Karen C Fox, Pamela Connor, Elizabeth McCullers, and Teresa Waters, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 227-230, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.071102

Non-invasive monitoring of the activities of daily living of elderly people at home – a pilot study of the usage of domestic appliances
“We conducted a feasibility study of a system for non-invasive monitoring of subjects at home. Electrical activity was recorded from room lights and from electrical domestic appliances; this was translated into the probability of physical activity or a particular Activity of Daily Living (ADL). Thirteen volunteer subjects were monitored for a period of 6.4 months (range 3–8). The mean age of the subjects was 80 years and they all lived alone at home; one had moderate Alzheimer’s disease. A one-week validation was carried out to ascertain whether the recorded activity actually occurred. The results showed that daily and nocturnal activity could be well differentiated. The probability of having eaten, taken a bath and going to the toilet could be calculated each day. Eating was the most accurately measured ADL; toileting and bathing results were less accurate. The system appears to be a promising component of home telecare.”
Abstract
Georgina Corte Franco, Floriane Gallay, Marc Berenguer, Christine Mourrain, and Pascal Couturier, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 231-235, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.071207

A paediatric therapeutic alliance occurs with distance intervention
“We investigated whether a distance therapeutic alliance occurs when children receive manualized, cognitive-behavioural treatment via telephone, in the absence of face-to-face contact. The therapeutic alliance scores were measured in 55 child–parent pairs. The mean total Working Alliance Inventory child scores were 236 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 232, 240) and the mean parent scores were 245 (95% CI: 242, 247). Parent scores were significantly higher than child scores, although the difference may not be clinically meaningful. This study provides evidence that a strong therapeutic alliance does occur between child–coach and parent–coach pairs when treatment is delivered from a distance by non-professionals. The term ‘child’ encompasses both children and adolescents.”
Abstract
Patricia Lingley-Pottie and Patrick J McGrath, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 236-240, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080101

International telepsychiatry: a study of patient acceptability
“An international telepsychiatry service was established between Denmark and Sweden for cross-cultural patient groups, such as asylum seekers, refugees and migrants. Over an 18-month period starting in mid 2006, 30 patients were treated by telepsychiatry (21 men and 9 women). The patients received mental health care by videoconferencing from providers who spoke the patients’ own language, i.e. without the assistance of interpreters. The total number of telepsychiatry sessions was 203 (range 1–22; average 6.8 sessions per patient). Patients completed a satisfaction questionnaire at the end of treatment. Seven patients (23%) were not able to complete a questionnaire, due to illiteracy and/or a psychotic condition. The rest of the patients (n=23) reported a high level of acceptance and satisfaction with telepsychiatry, as well as a willingness to use it again or recommend it to others. Any disadvantages of telemedicine were compensated by the fact that the doctor and patient spoke the same language and had similar cultural and/or national references. Mentally ill asylum seekers, refugees and migrants are under-served in their mother tongue and telepsychiatry can improve access to scarce health-care resources.”
Abstract
Davor Mucic , J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 241-243, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080301

The availability of telecardiology consultations and transfer patterns from a remote neonatal intensive care unit
“We examined records of all admissions to an isolated community neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in California between 2001 and 2006. We also reviewed the echocardiograms for diagnosis, disposition of patient and necessity for transport. In 2004, a telemedicine link (mainly store-and-forward) was established to a university children’s hospital (UCH) 290 km away. The number of NICU patients having an echocardiogram increased from 280 (27% of 1029 admissions) to 385 (40% of 963, P = <0.001) after telemedicine became available. There was an increase in the proportion of normal studies, from 31% to 37% (P = 0.03), and an increase in the number of patients diagnosed with cardiac pathology from 192 (19% of all admissions) to 241 (25%, P < 0.001). Twenty-four patients were transferred for cardiac reasons during each three-year period; however seven pre-telemedicine transfers were avoidable, compared with two post-telemedicine transfers (P = 0.06). There was a change in referral pattern (65% to the UCH pre-telemedicine, compared with 78% post-telemedicine) although it was not significant (P = 0.10). Thus the availability of the telecardiology link was associated with increases in the utilization of echocardiography, in the proportion of normal studies, and in the percentage of neonates diagnosed with cardiac pathology without an increase in the number transferred for cardiac reasons. There was a reduction in unnecessary transfers and a strengthened relationship with the centre providing the telecardiology service."
Abstract
Tannie Huang, Anita J Moon-Grady, Craig Traugott, and James Marcin, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 244-248, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080102

Feasibility of a home-based telerehabilitation system compared to usual care: arm/hand function in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis
“We conducted a randomized controlled multicentre trial to investigate the feasibility of a telerehabilitation intervention for arm/hand function (the Home Care Activity Desk [HCAD] training) in a home setting. Usual care was compared to HCAD training. The hypothesis was that the clinical outcomes of the HCAD intervention would be at least the same as those measured after a period of usual care for patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and multiple sclerosis (MS) with respect to their arm/hand function. Eighty-one patients with affected arm/hand function resulting from either stroke, MS or TBI were recruited in Italy, Spain and Belgium; 11 were lost during follow-up (14%). The outcome measures were the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). There were no significant differences between the two groups on the outcome measures (ARAT and NHPT); in both groups, patients maintained or even improved their arm/hand function. The HCAD training was found to be as feasible as usual care in terms of clinical outcomes, and both therapists and patients were satisfied with the HCAD intervention. A telerehabilitation intervention using HCAD may increase the efficiency of care.”
Abstract
Barbara CH Huijgen, Miriam MR Vollenbroek-Hutten, Mauro Zampolini, Eloy Opisso, Montse Bernabeu, Johan Van Nieuwenhoven, Stephan Ilsbroukx, Riccardo Magni, Claudia Giacomozzi, Velio Marcellari, Sandro Scattareggia Marchese, and Hermie J Hermens, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 249-256, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080104

Satisfaction with care in post-stroke patients undergoing a telerehabilitation programme at home
“We conducted a pilot telerehabilitation study with post-stroke patients with arm motor impairment. We compared the degree of satisfaction of patients undergoing a virtual reality (VR) therapy programme at home (Tele-VR group) to satisfaction experienced by those undergoing the same VR therapy in a hospital setting (VR-group). The rehabilitation equipment used a 3D motion tracking system to create a virtual environment in which the patient’s movement was represented. In tele-therapy, the patient equipment was installed in their homes, connected to the hospital by four ISDN lines at a total bandwidth of 512 kbit/s. Rehabilitation data were transmitted via one line and videoconferencing via the other three. Ten patients with mild to intermediate arm motor impairment due to an ischaemic stroke, were randomized into VR or Tele-VR groups. A questionnaire was used at the end of treatment to measure each patient’s degree of satisfaction. Tele-VR treated patients showed median values equal to or higher than the VR group patients in all 12 items investigated, except one. In motor performance, the Tele-VR group improved significantly (P ? 0.05), while the VR group showed no significant change. Patients assigned to the Tele-VR group were able to engage in therapy at home and the videoconferencing system ensured a good relationship between the patient and the physical therapist whose physical proximity was not required.”
Abstract
Lamberto Piron, Andrea Turolla, Paolo Tonin, Francesco Piccione, Lisa Lain, and Mauro Dam, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 257-260, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080304

Caregivers’ acceptance of electronic documentation in nursing homes
“A comparative study was conducted in two Australian nursing homes operated by the same organization. One home had implemented an electronic documentation system and the other remained paper-based. Survey questionnaires were answered by 14 of the 17 caregivers at the electronic documentation site (82%) and 10 of the 23 caregivers at the paper documentation site (43%). They provided opinions about satisfaction with their home’s documentation system, and the training and support provided. Information was also obtained on the caregivers’ attitudes towards using electronic documentation. The caregivers at the electronic documentation site quickly adapted to the use of the new technology after receiving effective training and support. Caregivers at both homes were satisfied with their homes’ documentation system, and had positive attitudes towards using electronic documentation systems. As an important communication tool, electronic nursing documentation may lead to improved efficacy of telemedicine in nursing home settings.”
Abstract
Ping Yu, David Hailey, and Haocheng Li, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 261-265, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080310

The use of videoconferencing for mental health services in Finland
“The utilization of telemental health (TMH) services in Finland was surveyed in 2006. In total, 135 health-care units provided responses. Eighty-four responses were received from primary care units (health-care centres and clinics) and eight from other clinics, in all hospital districts. The overall rate of TMH consultations was 4 per 100,000 population. The highest TMH consultation per population ratio, 22 per 100,000, was in northern Finland. Most of the sites used telepsychiatry services for less than 10% of clinical outpatient services. The sites with over 20% utilization of clinical TMH services from all psychiatric consultations were all rural health centres. Compared with Finland, the utilization rates of TMH were higher in Canada; that might be due to differences between the countries in the organization of mental health services in primary and specialized care. In Finland TMH consultations made up only a very small proportion of all mental health services. The use of TMH was particularly common in remote areas; however, there were many rural centres that did not utilize clinical TMH. TMH was widely utilized for continuing and medical education.”
Abstract
Arto Ohinmaa, Risto Roine, David Hailey, Marja-Leena Kuusimäki, and Ilkka Winblad, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 266-270, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.071212

Use of mobile phone cameras for after-hours triage in primary care
“Mobile phone images might be useful in after-hours triage of primary care. We conducted a study to identify population access to mobile phone cameras and to assess the clinical usefulness of mobile phone cameras. The survey was conducted among 480 patients attending two rural New Zealand practices. There were significantly more Maori owners compared to non-Maori (P = 0.002). Age was a significant factor influencing the ownership of mobile phones. We also conducted a clinical quiz among health professionals to assess how the provision of images on a mobile phone and on CD-ROM (to simulate the image that would be seen if email was used to transmit the images) influenced diagnostic confidence. Ten photographable clinical conditions were used to quiz 30 health professionals who were randomized into three groups of 10 each on diagnostic confidence. Images were found to significantly increase diagnostic confidence in all cases except one. It appears that mobile phone cameras are generally acceptable to patients and likely to be of practical use to rural practitioners in a range of clinical scenarios.”
Abstract
Chandra Jayaraman, Paul Kennedy, Gaelle Dutu, and Ross Lawrenson, J Telemed Telecare 2008;14 271-274, doi:10.1258/jtt.2008.080303

King’s Fund to run telehealth network

“The Department of Health has funded a network to help expand use of telehealth and telecare and disseminate the lessons learned from the Whole System Demonstrator programme.
The Whole System Demonstrators Action Network involves an action research programme involving 10 to 12 of the unsuccessful sites for the WSD programme. The groups, made up of PCTs, local authorities and third sector organisations, will share information from the pilots as well as collecting data on the progress and impact of telecare and telehealth applications at their own sites.”
Article
e-Health Insider Primary Care, 16 July 2008

Intel gets approval for telecare device

“Intel has received market clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new personal telehealth system, called Intel Health Guide.
The new telecare device, which has been tested in the US and UK, is described as a care management tool for healthcare professionals who manage patients with chronic conditions.
Intel says the device serves as a new category of ‘personal health system’ that can be connected to a range of wired and wireless patient monitoring devices, sending personal data to a secure server.”
Article
e-Health Insider, 14 July 2008

Medicare bill includes provisions for telehealth

“The Senate approved a bill Thursday that will phase out Medicare’s higher co-pays for mental health services, bringing them in line with co-pays for physical healthcare services.
As a result of advocacy on the part of the National Council, a provision was included in the bill to expand access to mental healthcare in rural America by making community mental health centers eligible to participate in the Medicare telehealth program.”
Article
Molly Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 11 June 2008

E-consult reimbursement not new concept for some

“The CMS is proposing allowing physicians to bill for follow-up inpatient consultations delivered via telehealth, a move that could spur health insurers to do the same.
In the proposed fee-schedule rule released this week, and up for public comment until Aug. 29, the CMS suggests three new inpatient codes to bill for these consultations. The idea is such visits would be strictly for follow-up inpatient visits, and not subsequent hospital care, according to the CMS. A final rule will be issued Nov. 1.”
Article
Modern Healthcare, 2 July 2008

Telemedicine and eHealth, TOC, June 2008

Mobile Health Clinics and Telemedicine
“Think of mobile health clinic and what comes to mind? Depending on where you live, it might mean Tommy the Tooth van dispensing free brushes and toothpaste to the community. Maybe a loved one received a mammogram in their small town or received diabetes education. The Lions Club may have sponsored a mobile vision clinic where senior citizens were screened for glaucoma. Perhaps migrant farm workers lined up for
hours to get free medical care while working in the fields. Whether you live in the city or the country, chances are some type of mobile health clinic has visited your community sporting colorful graphics on the outside and various medical/dental services on the inside.”
Article
Kevin D. Blanchet,Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 407-412.

Acceptance of Telemonitoring to Enhance Medication Compliance in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Sixty-two congestive heart failure patients participated in a controlled, longitudinal study at two ambulatory medical centers in Hamburg, Germany. Two groups, a control (no telemedicine intervention) and the study group (telemedicine) were evaluated for medication intake. A medication box, networked to the patient’s electronic health record, was used for the telemedicine group. The main objective was to evaluate noncompliance of medication intake. The research showed that the system was effective. However, nearly 50% felt it was not necessary to continue the reporting after the study.
Article
Silke Schmidt, Sarah Sheikzadeh, Britta Beil, Monica Patten, Jürgen Stettin, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 426-433.

Clinical Management and Patient Outcomes Among Children and Adolescents Receiving Telemedicine Consultations for Obesity
A retrospective review of patient medical records was conducted of children and adolescents who received pediatric weight management consultations using telemedicine. Ninety-nine patient files were reviewed. Analysis indicated that weight management using telemedicine can result in modification in patient care plans and outcomes.
Article
Ulfat Shaikh, Stacey L. Cole, James P. Marcin, Thomas S. Nesbitt, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 434-440.

Optometric Referrals to Retina Specialists: Evaluation and Triage via Teleophthalmology
A teleophthalmology program linked Canadian optometrists to retina specialists for 171 patients and 190 consultations. In this carefully described study, 21/25 patients who required treatment condensed their visit to the specialist to a single day by having diagnostics done by telemedicine. Office visits to the specialist were reduced by 48%.
Article
Chris Hanson, Matthew T.S. Tennant, Chris J. Rudnisky, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 441-445.

The Value of Provider-to-Provider Telehealth
The Center for Information Technology examined the value of providers with the patient and a distance site using three models of telehealth: store-and-forward, real-time video, and hybrid systems. A detailed literature review was conducted to elucidate where value had been reported. The data was evaluated by a computer simulation, which calculated the national value of provider-to-provider telehealth. Overall, the potential benefits of telehealth far outweigh the implementation costs, especially in emergency departments.
Article
Eric Pan, Caitlin Cusack, Julie Hook, Adam Vincent, David C. Kaelber, David W. Bates, Blackford Middleton, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 446-453.

A Wireless Medical Information Query System Based on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)
Wireless data management and data access for telemedicine extend far beyond the realities of short text messaging limits. This report offers a query system based on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) that can work at 100 bit/sec with the advantage to limited system consumption, terminal support, and expense.
Article
Zhelong Wang, Hong Gu, Dewei Zhao, Weiming Wang, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 454-460.

Acceptability of Telepsychiatry in American Indians
The acceptability of conducting psychiatric assessments with rural American Indian veterans by real-time videoconferencing versus in person visits was evaluated. Fifty-three North Plains American Indian veterans from the Vietnam Era participated in this study. A videoconferencing link between the University of Colorado at Denver Health Science Center and the rural community was established. Participants were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) for psychiatric assessments using this videoconferencing link. This assessment tool was administered face-to-face by telehealth in different ways and by different interviewers. Telepsychiatry was well received and was comparable to in-person interactions.
Article
Jay H. Shore, Elizabeth Brooks, Daniel Savin, Heather Orton, Jim Grigsby, Spero M. Manson, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 461-466.

An Experience of Health Technology Assessment in New Models of Care for Subjects with Parkinson’s Disease by Means of a New Wearable Device
This report characterizes a system combining gastrocnemius expansion measurement unit (GEMU), a step-counting device, with a telemedicine application for patients with Parkinsonism. GEMU by telemedicine correlated strongly with motion decrement in a robust and reliable system, which enjoyed high user acceptance.
Article
Daniele Giansanti, Giovanni Maccioni, Sandra Morelli, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 467-472.

Development of a Multidisciplinary Osteoporosis Telehealth Program
This report from Toronto details a comprehensive women’s bone health program with referrals from 20 family doctors. The patients engaged in an average 2-hour consultation with very positive perceptions. Increased access to care was the principle outcome.
Article
Leigh Dickson, Cathy Cameron, Gillian Hawker, Azeena Ratansi, Ina Radziunas, Vinita Bansod, Susan Jaglal, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 473-478.

Uncompressed Video Image Transmission of Laparoscopic or Endoscopic Surgery for Telemedicine
A robust, high-speed telecommunications link was established between Shanghai, China and Fukuoka, Japan for videoconferencing. This system was utilized to support real-time interactions during laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures. Images, transmitted via a digital video transfer system (DVTS), were evaluated by participating physicians who completed a mini-questionnaire. A number of hospitals across the region participated, including Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Thirty-eight physicians completed the questionnaire. The majority (73.8%) indicated the images were very good. This tool has been viewed as an efficient and useful tool for the medical community in this region.
Article
Ke-Jian Huang, Zheng-Jun Qiu, Chun-Yu Fu, Shuji Shimizu, Koji Okamura, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 479-485.

Using e-Health to Enable Culturally Appropriate Mental Healthcare in Rural Areas,br /> Relevant research issues in providing culturally appropriate e-mental health care were reviewed with intent to determine where research efforts could be expanded or prioritized. A workshop was held in California to address the provision of mental health care in rural areas due to a variety of barriers, including language, culture, and poverty. A set of recommendations for expanding and prioritizing research efforts was developed in both science and policy.
Article
Peter Yellowlees, Shayna Marks, Don Hilty, Jay H. Shore, Telemedicine and e-Health. June 2008, 14(5): 486-492.

Bainbridge warns of need for telecare

“Health and social care services have five years to develop the telehealth and telecare services they will need to cope with an ageing population, Dr Mike Bainbridge, NHS Connecting for Health’s clinical architect, has warned.
Speaking at a fringe session at this year’s NHS Confederation conference, Dr Bainbridge said that ageing combined with an increasing burden of chronic disease threatened to make current models of healthcare unsustainable within a few decades.”
Article
e-Health Insider, 23 June 2008

Improving access to information can improve health care

“Families across South Dakota and the nation are well aware of the cost of health care today, and it is rightly an issue that should concern leaders in Congress and other levels of government. While partisan politics often overshadows some of the common-sense steps we can take to improve access to affordable, high-quality care, expanding access to effective health care technologies has been one area of agreement.”
Article
Sen. John Thune, Meade County Times-Tribune, 17 June 2008

S.J. General to link patients, doctors via video

“San Joaquin County’s drastic shortage of physician specialists could improve rapidly with the announcement that San Joaquin General Hospital has been selected as one of six initial telehealth programs using video technology to link out-of-area doctors with local patients.
The half-dozen sites spread throughout the San Joaquin Valley are at the forefront of what is expected to become a larger project using telemedicine technologies to connect physicians with patients in some of the region’s most rural and underserved communities.
Article
Joe Goldeen, Reecordnet.com, 6 June 2008

Telehealth program to link medical specialists with patients (2:36 p.m.)

“San Joaquin County’s drastic shortage of physician specialists could improve rapidly with the announcement that San Joaquin General Hospital has been selected as one of six initial telehealth programs using video technology to link out-of-area doctors with local patients.”
Article
Joe Goldeen, Recordnet.com, 5 June 2008

American Well plans to bring convenience to telehealth

“American Well plans to launch a virtual healthcare platform June 18 that the company says will change the way people think about telemedicine.
Roy Schoenberg, MD, CEO and founder of American Well, has made arrangements to partner with several large healthcare plans with a new online software product he claims will save healthcare costs, provide convenience to doctors and patients, care to the uninsured and increase quality of care, especially for patients with chronic conditions.”
Article
Diana Manos, Healthcare IT News, 5 June 2008

Telehealthcare Can Transform Health & Social Care

“Telehealthcare has the potential to radically transform health and social care delivery and support the Government’s goal of providing integrated, person-centred care services within the community. This is according to a panel of leading healthcare experts, directors of adult and community services and the Local Government Association.”
Article
eHealthNews.eu, 3 June 2008

The Telehealth Promise-Better Health Care and Cost Savings for the 21st Century

“The growing cost of medical care and gaps in coverage are creating enormous pressure on both providers and public policymakers to identify new strategies for delivering cost-effective and quality care to all citizens. Many health care experts believe that part of the answer lies with telehealth applications made possible by the increasing power of information technology and the spread of broadband connectivity. Indeed, we believe widespread implementation of telehealth could save the U.S. health care system $4.28 billion just from reducing transfers of patients from one location, such as a nursing home, for medical exams at hospitals, physicians’ offices, or other caregiver locations. When appropriate diagnosis and care can be provided remotely
via telemedicine, a patient transfer creates unnecessary cost as well as hardship for the patient.”
Report
Alexander H. Vo, UTMB, May 2008

Telehealth On The Starting Grid

“The European Commission says it is helping develop technologies that could lead to significant advances for both doctors and the patients they treat. One example is the Akogrimo project, which is developing the potential of telemonitoring by developing a grid to bring diagnostic tools out of hospitals and into the field. The results of their work will potentially give paramedics and other mobile response units access to powerful tools previously beyond their grasp.”
Article
Wireless Healthcare, 29 May 2008

‘Net, Video Tools Successful in Lung Disease Management

“A program that uses video conferencing, the Internet and other technologies to provide pulmonary rehabilitation helps improve the condition of chronic lung disease patients in rural and remote areas, according to a Canadian study.”
Article
Forbes, 22 May 2008

Johns Hopkins boosts telehealth service

“Johns Hopkins Medicine International will use telehealth technology to boost its global “medical second opinion” service, which allows physicians from the hospital to review remote patient cases.
JHI will be using Houston-based Eceptionist’s Telehealth and Triage Manager modules to manage the medical second opinion (MSO) service between Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and affiliate hospitals around the world.”
Article
Molly Merrill, Healthcare IT News, 23 May 2008

Evaware launches new telehealth platform

“Software developer, Evaware has launched a new telehealth device, which wirelessly connects with its Project E-vita web-based electronic patient record, enabling clinicians to remotely monitor the vital signs of their home-based patients.”
Article
e-Health Insider Primary Care, 22 May 2008

Telehealthcare: the long road from concept to reality

“It will take time and effort to make telehealthcare a realty, according to Rolien de Jong, innovations manager at The Hague-based Meavita Healthcare. Presenting the experiences of her company at the eHealth 2008 meeting in Slovenia, de Jong pointed out that in order to make the breakthrough, it’s the providers who are taking the risk – not once, not twice, “but again, and again, and again”.”
Article
HealthTech Wire, 19 May 2008

Continua promises products by year end

“Continua Health Alliance says the first interoperable personal telehealth products, able to work with each other out ‘of the box’, will be in stores by year end.
The first standards produced by the industry Alliance, including health USB and Bluetooth standards, are due for publication in the next month.
Continua is a Intel-championed open industry alliance, that for the past two years has been fast-tracking efforts to develop standards for interoperable personal health systems and devices.”
Article
eHealth Europe, 14 May 2008

Digital Homecare book. Deadline call for chapters extended.

Due to many requests, the deadline for the chapter submission for the ICMCC book on Digital Homecare has been extended till June 15

People with chronic illness benefit from telehealth intervention

“Telehealth, using telecommunication technology to deliver health care, is increasingly being used to improve the delivery and availability of health care services to patients. A University of Missouri researcher found that patients who received a telehealth intervention from care providers had significantly delayed hospital readmission rates when compared to patients who received traditional care.”
Article
Science Centric, 8 May 2008

Unlimited Potential for tele-health

“Regular HealthBlog readers know that I’m a huge proponent of eHealth and tele-health as a means to extend healthcare information and services to citizens around the globe. In my world travels I see plenty of evidence that we are entering a new age in the provision of care; harkened by a need to help control spiraling costs, improve access, and extend a dwindling and aging population of skilled healthcare professionals.”
Article
Bill Crounse, HealthBlog, 7 May 2008